It was a very different Waldo Emerson Smith-Jones from the thing that the sea had spewed up twelve months before. CHAPTER II KING THANDAR The first thing that Thandar did after he entered the village was to seek out Nadara's father. They found the old man in the poorest and least protected cave in the cliff side, exposed to the attack of the first prowling carnivore, or skulking foeman. He was sick, and there was none to care for him; but he did not complain. That was the way of his people. When a man became too old to be of service to the community it were better that he died, and so they did nothing to delay the inevitable. When one became an absolute burden upon his fellows it was customary to hasten the end--a carefully delivered blow with a heavy rock was calculated quickly to relieve the burdens of the community and the suffering of the invalid. Thandar and Nadara came in and sat down beside him. The old fellow seemed glad to see them. "I am Thandar," said the young man. "I wish to take your daughter as my mate." The old man looked at him questioningly for a moment. "You have killed Korth and Flatfoot--who is to prevent you from taking Nadara?" "I wish to be joined to her with your permission and in accordance with the marriage ceremonies of your people," said Thandar. The old man shook his head. "I do not understand you," he replied at last. "There are several fine caves that are not occupied--if you wish a better one you have but to slay the present occupants if they do not get out when you tell them to--but I think they will get out when the slayer of Korth and Flatfoot tells them to." "I am not worried about a cave," said Thandar. "Tell me how men take their wives among you." "If they do not come with us willingly we take them by the hair and drag them with us," replied Nadara's father. "My mate would not come with me," he continued, "and even after I had caught her and dragged her to my cave she broke away and fled from me, but again I overhauled her, for when I was young none could run more swiftly, and this time I did what I should have done at first--I beat her upon the head until she went to sleep. When she awoke she was in my own cave, and it was night, and she did not try to ran away any more." For a long time Thandar sat in thought. Presently he spoke addressing Nadara. "In my country we do not take our wives in any such way, nor shall I take you thus. We must be married properly, according to the customs and laws of civilization." Nadara made no reply. To her it seemed that Thandar must care very little for her--that was about the only explanation she could put upon his strange behavior. It made her sad. And then the other women would laugh at her--of that she was quite certain, and that, too, made her feel very badly--they would see that Thandar did not want her.